April 11, 2011

April: National Poetry Month

I just learned April is National Poetry Month and this is really fitting because today I requested a copy of my favorite book of poems via the free swap feature on goodreads.com.

If you aren’t familiar with goodreads, you should check it out. It’s a wonderful site to keep track of what great book you happen to be reading or what you would like to read next. There’s also a way to make a wish list and if anything on your list becomes available, you can have it for free if you pay the sender’s postage.

My favorite poems in this book are in the section “Poems that Tell a Story.” I used to spend lots of time at my grandparents’ house, reading their copy of the book over and over, acting the poems out and illustrating them in little notebooks and journals.

The book was published in 1936 and includes over 575 poems…there is definitely a verse for any occasion that might arise. Poems are one of those things people seem to be intimidated by, especially when they don’t rhyme (gasp!), but this volume is a wonderful collection and a neat slice of history.

For more lovely stanzas and verses, hop over to Deep South Magazine to see a list of poetry in celebration of this month. Do you have a favorite poem or two? I’d love to know what they are!

1 comment:

One of my favorite poems is actually one of my own, "Southern Life". The poem tells just a few of the things I love about life in the south . The poem is included in my books Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia and My Magnolia Memories and Musings. I call both books "a celebration of the south and things southern ". I would love for you to possibly consider introducing the books to your readers on your blog .

SOUTHERN LIFE If you want a glimpse of Southern life, Come close and walk with me; I'll tell you all the simple things, That you are sure to see. You'll see mockingbirds and bumblebees, Magnolia blossoms and dogwood trees, Caterpillars on the step, Wooden porches cleanly swept; Watermelons on the vine, Strong majestic Georgia pines; Rocking chairs and front yard swings, June bugs flying on a string; Turnip greens and hot cornbread, Coleslaw and barbecue; Fried okra, fried corn, fried green tomatoes, Fried pies and pickles, too. There's ice cold tea that's syrupy sweet, And cool, green grass beneath your feet; Catfish nipping in the lake, And fresh young boys on the make. You'll see all these things And much, much more, In a way of life, that I adore. 2008 Patricia Neely-Dorsey from Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia-A Life In Poems www.patricianeelydorsey.webs.com